Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Transcaucasus: Roads

Lord Hylton: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they willtake, together with international partners, to ensure that the decision of theInternational Court of Justice concerning accessto and from Armenia through the Lachin corridor is upheld.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK Government is aware of continued disruption to the Lachin Corridor, including to the flow of humanitarian goods and civilians. The UK raised this issue most recently on 2 March at the OSCE, and concerns were also conveyed by the Minister for Europe during his visit to Azerbaijan in February 2023. The UK has taken note of the judgement from the International Court of Justice in relation to the Lachin Corridor, and encourages all parties to consider its implementation. We will continue to urge both parties to negotiate to reach a lasting peace agreement, and to honour all their commitments.

Armenia: Azerbaijan

Lord Hylton: To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they aremaking to the government of Azerbaijan about the killing of three Armenian officials on 5 March, near the village of Ghaibalishen; and whether they have raised this matter with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: His Majesty's Ambassadors to Azerbaijan and Armenia continue to engage with their hosts on the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and whilst we have not raised the 5 March incident at the OSCE we will continue to call upon both parties to engage in discussions to peacefully resolve outstanding issues relating to the conflict. The Minister for Europe reinforced these messages to the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister when visiting Baku last month. The loss of life in this instance and throughout this conflict, is lamentable and the UK Government expresses condolences to all those who were injured and the families of those who lost their lives.

Israel

Lord Hylton: To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel regarding a new law allowing those (1) convicted of, or (2) charged with, acts of terrorism to be deprived of (a) citizenship, or (b) residency; and what was the outcome of any such discussions.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK Government strongly condemns all acts of terrorism and incitement of violence. We have not raised this issue specifically with the Government of Israel, but we regularly make clear that we expect Israel to uphold its obligations as the occupying power under the Geneva convention, including not transferring the protected population from the occupied territory. The Israeli and Palestinian leaders need to work together to find a durable solution to the conflict that prevents terrorism, ends the cycle of violence and delivers a sustainable, and just peace based on a two-state solution.

Israel: Palestinians

Lord Hylton: To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made tothe government of Israel regarding the proposal to stop recognising the medical degrees granted by Palestinian universities.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK has made no such representations to the Government of Israel on this issue specifically. The UK welcomes any effort to cooperate between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples, including in the healthcare sector.

Ukraine: Abduction

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the report published by the Conflict Observatory on 14 February which found that more than 6,000 Ukrainian children between the ages of four months and 17 years have been abducted by the government of Russia, held in camps and subjected to re-education, and (2) estimates by the government of Ukraine that the number of abducted children may be much higher.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK is examining the findings of the Conflict Observatory report carefully. It supports growing evidence, including from the UN and OSCE, that large-scale forced transfers to Russia or within Russian-controlled territories of Ukraine are occurring and that Russia may be seeking to erase Ukrainian identity through education programmes. We have seen this before in Crimea and other Russian-controlled territories of Ukraine, where Russia imposed the Russian curriculum. The report refers only to the number of children sent to re-education camps; the number affected by forced transfers is likely much higher. Lack of access for humanitarian and monitoring organisations to Russia and Russian-controlled territory makes it difficult verify exact numbers.

Israel: Palestinians

The Lord Bishop of Southwark: To ask His Majesty's Government whatrepresentations they have made to the government of Israel regarding the statement by Israel's Minister of Finance,Mr Bezalel Smotrich, on 1 March, that the Palestinian village of Hawara "should be wiped out”.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: As I set out in my tweet on 26 February, the scenes of abhorrent violence in Huwara were shocking. The UK also stresses the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population. Rhetoric about "wiping out" places is harmful and irresponsible. The British Embassy in Tel Aviv has raised these comments with the Government of Israel at senior levels. We condemn Finance Minister Smotrich's incitement to violence. Such rhetoric serves no purpose other than to stoke tensions further.

Somaliland: Violence

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the decision by the Crisis Group to place Somaliland on its March 2023 Conflict Risk Alert, in response to concerns about escalating violence in the Sool region, what assessment they have made of the current security situation in Somaliland.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The UK is closely monitoring violence in Las Anod. We assess that there are risks of further escalation and instability unless a ceasefire is upheld and a peaceful resolution reached. We are working with partners to press all parties to end the fighting. The UK joined UN statements on 7 and 14 February that urged both sides to prevent civilian casualties, allow unfettered humanitarian access and engage in dialogue. On 28 February, the UK issued a joint statement with Qatar, Somalia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and US that called for de-escalation. The UK-supported Start Fund is providing support via Oxfam to households displaced by the violence.

Windsor Framework

Lord Balfe: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the cost of implementing the Windsor Framework; and what proportion of that cost will be paid by (1) the UK, and (2) the EU.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We have set out the instruments that make up this package overall. These will be approved at the next meeting of the UK-EU Joint Committee. After that, the UK and EU will respectively take forward legislative measures to translate the solutions into law in both legal orders, providing the basis for these new arrangements to enter into force. As that happens, we will set out the details of those new arrangements and their costs in the usual way.

Iran

Viscount Waverley: To ask His Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made of the prospects for progress on (1) the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action negotiations, (2) political prisoner releases, and (3) gas supplies to the UK and EU, of strengthened democratic governance and transparency in Iran; and what discussions they will have with the government of the United States about those prospects.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Iran's lack of regard for the rule of law and lack of transparency was starkly on show in 2022, not least through the authorities' brutal crackdown on protests. The execution of young people detained in connection to protests is a tragic result of a system where forced confessions, lack of due process and disproportionate sentences are rife. UK action, alongside our partners, is shining a light on the regime's persistent human rights violations. Through our sanctions designations, our work in multilateral fora and our lobbying, the UK is keeping the focus of international pressure on the regime including those responsible for unfairly detaining British and other foreign nationals.A viable deal was put on the table in March and again in August 2022 which would have returned Iran to compliance with its Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) commitments and returned the US to the deal. Iran refused to seize a critical diplomatic opportunity to conclude the deal with continued demands beyond the scope of the JCPoA. We are considering next steps with our international partners, including the US.Iran lacks the required physical and political infrastructure for gas exports.

Home Office

Isabel Vaughan-Spruce

Lord Jackson of Peterborough: To ask His Majesty's Government, furtherto the Written Answer from Lord Sharpe of Epsom on 9 January 2023(HL4491), what guidance local authorities are given on the European Convention on Human Rights when using Public Space Protection Orders to ensure that any restrictions on freedom of speech and religion are necessary and proportionate.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom: Section 72 of the Antisocial behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 states that when making decisions regarding a Public Spaces Protection Order, a local authority must have particular regard to the rights of freedom of expression and freedom of assembly set out in articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights.The Government issues statutory guidance on the use of antisocial behaviour powers provided under the Antisocial behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 - Anti-social behaviour powers (publishing.service.gov.uk).The Local Government Association has also published guidance for councils on the use of Public Spaces Protection Orders, which makes reference to local authorities’ human rights obligations - Public spaces protection orders: guidance for councils (local.gov.uk).In 2019, the Court of Appeal upheld the legality of the Public Spaces Protection Order outside the abortion clinic in Ealing. The Court concluded that on balance the provision of that specific designated area with its restrictions allows both the Pro-Life and Pro-Choice groups to exercise their Article 9 (freedom of thought, religion and belief), 10 and 11 rights in a way which protects the rights of others in the locality, particularly the Article 8 rights (respect for private and family life) of clinic service users.

Passports: Foreign Nationals

Lord Allan of Hallam: To ask His Majesty's Government how many passport applicants were required to send their foreign passports to the Passport Office when applying for a UK passport; and what was the average time that foreign passports were held by the Passport Office before being returned to the applicant in (1) 2021, and (2) 2022.

Lord Murray of Blidworth: The volumes and types of evidence received in support of British passport applications, and the timeframe that such evidence is retained by His Majesty’s Passport Office, is not held in a reportable format.Obtaining this data would be at a disproportionate cost.

Asylum: Children

Baroness Hamwee: To ask His Majesty's Government whether all unaccompanied children seeking asylum on arrival in the UK and accommodated in Home Office-funded hotels are now being referred to Kent County Council Children’s Services ”at the earliest possible point” in accordance with Home Office guidance; and how quickly such referrals are being made.

Lord Murray of Blidworth: The Home Office recognise the longstanding role that Kent County Council has played in supporting unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) and former unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and are grateful for their contribution.The Home Office notifies Kent County Council about all UASC arriving in their area. The notification is completed along with the National Transfer scheme referral, as quickly as possible - with the length of time taken to complete the referral process being dependant on arrival numbers.

Hate Crime

Lord Jackson of Peterborough: To ask His Majesty's Government whetherthe Home Office collects data on non-crime hate incidents; and if not, why not.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom: The Home Office does not collect data on non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs). The data collected from the police balances policy needs and the burden on police forces. This Government recognises concerns surrounding the recording of NCHIs. Accordingly, on 13 March, under provisions in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, the Home Secretary laid the statutory Non-Crime Hate Incidents Draft Code of Practice on the Recording and Retention of Personal Data before Parliament. The code will be subject to the affirmative procedure and introduces new safeguards to better protect personal data and the right to freedom of expression. Once in effect, the code will ensure that police only record NCHIs when it is absolutely necessary and proportionate to do so, and not simply because someone is offended.

Hillsborough Families' Experiences Review

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government whythey have not responded to the report by The Right Reverend James Jones KBE The patronising disposition of unaccountable power: A report to ensure the pain and suffering of the Hillsborough families is not repeated, published on 1 November 2017; whether they support the recommendations concerning (1) the duty of candour, (2) the equality of arms at inquests, (3) the appointment of an Independent Public Advocate, and (4) a Charter for Families Bereaved through Public Tragedy; and whether they intend to support the enactment of the Public Authorities (Accountability) Bill.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom: The points of learning made by Bishop James Jones in his report span a number of departments and organisations and the Home Office is coordinating the Government’s overarching response to it.Whilst the timing of the Government’s response to the Bishop’s report has been impacted by the need to avoid risk of prejudice during the Hillsborough criminal proceedings, work has been underway within the relevant departments and organisations to carefully consider and address those points of learning directed at the Government. With criminal proceedings having concluded, the Government is committed to engaging with the Hillsborough families and publishing a full response to the Bishop’s report as soon as practicable.This response will address all the Bishop’s points of learning, including: a Charter for Families Bereaved through Public Tragedy; a duty of candour for public authorities and officials; and equality of arms at inquests.On 1 March 2023 the Secretary of State for Justice announced the Government’s intention to legislate, as soon as possible, to introduce an independent public advocate; to put victims and the bereaved at the heart of our response to large-scale public disasters; to make sure they get the support they deserve through public inquests and inquiries; and to make sure they get the answers they need to move forward in their lives. He has also offered to meet the families and groups from Hillsborough, Grenfell and the Manchester Arena bombing.The independent public advocate is an important step forward in ensuring that the pain and suffering of the Hillsborough victims, and other victims, is never repeated.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

British Museum: Restitution

Lord Boateng: To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the trustees of the British Museum about the return of artefacts of historic, cultural or religious significance in the Museum’s collection to their countries of origin where the legality of their acquisition has been contested; and whether this includes the Ethiopian tabots.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: Objects in the collection of the British Museum are legally owned by the Trustees of the British Museum, which is operationally independent of Government. Discussions and decisions relating to the care and management of the museum's collections are therefore a matter for the Trustees of the British Museum.Some national museums, including the British Museum, are prevented by legislation from deaccessioning objects in their collections unless, broadly, they are duplicates or unfit for retention. The two exceptions to this are when the objects are human remains less than 1,000 years old, and objects spoliated during the Nazi-era. The Government has no plans to change these laws.The British Museum has said that it recognises the significance of the tabots and has held meaningful talks with the Ethiopian Church on this sensitive issue. The Museum’s stated ambition is to seek to lend these objects to an Ethiopian Orthodox Church in the UK. The Government fully supports the Museum’s Trustees in their approach.

Culture: Finance

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what investment they are making inthe UK’s cultural infrastructure.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: The Government is investing in cultural infrastructure across the country through a number of funding programmes. The second round of the Levelling Up Fund, announced in January 2023, saw £546 million of investment into 31 culture and heritage projects across the country.The Government funds Arts Council England, which awarded £22.7 million from its Capital Investment Programme in 2022/23, providing 66 cultural organisations grants of between £100,000 and £750,000. This programme aims to strengthen cultural infrastructure by supporting organisations to adapt buildings and equipment so they can operate safely post-pandemic, to improve access, to seize on technological opportunities, and to reduce their environmental impact.Alongside this, the Government’s Cultural Development Fund — a manifesto commitment — has provided £44 million of capital investment in transformative, place-based creative and cultural initiatives in rounds 1 and 2. These rounds provided support to 12 projects across the country. The successful recipients of the £32.4 million third round of the Fund will be announced in Spring 2023. Round 1 of the Libraries Improvement Fund is also investing £5 million in 25 library services to upgrade their buildings and technology.The Government has also invested £95 million in Historic England’s High Street Heritage Action Zones scheme, which targets 67 high streets across England to encourage economic growth and increase pride in place. Additionally, the £82 million Museum Estate and Development Fund, an open-access capital fund for non-national accredited museums in England, provides funding to undertake vital infrastructure and urgent maintenance backlogs. In round one of the project in 2022, a total of £18.8 million was awarded to 31 museums. Additionally, in 2022-24, the £4 million DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund will continue to invest in the display and accessibility of collections across England, taking to £52 million the amount invested since the programme was created in 2002.

Gambling: Suicide

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by (1) Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 11 January (HL4504), and (2) the Parliamentary Under-Secretary at DCMS on 14 December 2021 (88799), why they provided statistics on the amount of customer suicides that have been reported by gambling operators in the past three years in 2021 but not in 2023; and whether they will now provide updated statistics.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: In the past three years, the Gambling Commission has published details of two enforcement cases which have had links to deaths by suicide.The Office for National Stastics’s process of collecting mortality statistics is separate from gambling operator data. The Gambling Commission asks operators to notify the Commission if they are made aware of a death by suicide which may be linked to their gambling facilities. This enables the Commission to make enquiries to determine whether there has been a breach of social responsibility codes and licence conditions and whether compliance or enforcement action is appropriate.To strengthen provisions further, the Commission has recently opened a consultation on reporting deaths by suicide. The proposals would require licensees to inform the Commission when they become aware that any customer has died by suicide, whether or not there is a clear link to their gambling activity.

Museums and Galleries: Restitution

Lord Boateng: To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have received about the repatriation of artefacts in UK museums and galleries and the legality of the acquisitionof such artefacts; and, where acquisition is contested, whether they have any plans to legislate to facilitate the return of any such artefacts.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: Museums and galleries in the UK operate independently of the Government. Decisions relating to the care and management of their collections are a matter for the trustees of each museum, including research into items’ provenance and claims for restitution. Last year, Arts Council England published guidance on the handling of restitution claims and practical advice for museums on this matter.Some national museums are prevented by legislation from deaccessioning objects in their collections unless, broadly, they are duplicates or unfit for retention. The two exceptions to this are when the objects are human remains less than 1,000 years old, and objects spoliated during the Nazi era. The Government has no plans to change these laws.

Arts and Theatres: Children

Baroness Benjamin: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure that all children, including those who have special educational needs, have full access to (1) theatres, and (2) arts centres.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: The Government is committed to ensuring that all children have access to arts and cultural attractions across the UK. That is why it encouraged Arts Council England to ensure that the public money it disburses is spread more equitably across the country, and why we are pleased to see a record number of cultural organisations receiving funding in more parts of the country than ever before, helping to bring world-class arts and culture closer to everyone.Arts Council England funding supports a range of projects, programmes, and organisations which specialise in widening opportunities for young people, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The most recent annual survey of Arts Council national portfolio organisations showed that 509 organisations (61%) delivered specific activity for people with disabilities, with 71 reporting that this was a major focus of their work. 309 organisations in the portfolio delivered workshops or educational sessions for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.David Stanley is the Government’s Arts and Culture Disability and Access Ambassador. As founder and chief executive of the multi award-winning music education charity The Music Man Project, David is widely known for his experience and commitment to supporting people with special educational needs to access and participate in the arts. The Department is working closely with David to improve accessibility for people with disabilities, including children with special educational needs.Arts Councils across the UK are also working with the British Film Institute to launch a free, UK-wide arts access scheme by early 2024. This scheme will operate across all arts and cultural venues, for seamless, barrier-free booking that is responsive to individual circumstances and needs.Our work with the Department for Education on a new Cultural Education Plan, as committed to in the Schools White Paper, will build further on this important work.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Food: Shortages

Baroness Kennedy of Cradley: To ask His Majesty's Government what is their latest assessment of the stepsbeing taken to ensure there are no shortages of UK-produced food on supermarket shelves.

Lord Benyon: Defra is closely monitoring markets and supply chains to explore the factors that have contributed to ongoing supply chain pressures and is considering how government and industry can work together to mitigate them, in the short and longer term Defra has requested weekly data from supermarkets on supplies of the foods affected to ensure we have the latest available data. Supermarkets are confident that supply will be back to normal by the end of this month. On March 3rd, Minister Spencer visited Thanet Earth to discuss the opportunities and challenges for growers within the sector. Defra has been engaging with primary producers and trade associations such as the British Growers Association, to assess potential risks to the supply of fruit and vegetables. The UK has a highly resilient food supply chain, as demonstrated throughout the Covid-19 response. It is well equipped to deal with situations with the potential to cause disruption. The Government Food Strategy sets out a plan to transform our food system to ensure it is fit for the future. It aims to broadly maintain the current level of food that we produce domestically and boost production in sectors where there are the biggest opportunities – such as horticulture and seafood. We want people, at home and abroad, to be lining up to buy British. This strategy will support that commitment; to see more locally sourced food, food producers to be able to take advantage of trade deals, consumers to be confident in the British food that they are buying in their local supermarket.

Agriculture

Baroness Kennedy of Cradley: To ask His Majesty's Government whatis their latest assessment of the number of farmers and growers in business in England today compared to the number in March 2018.

Lord Benyon: The department does not hold a register of all farms. However, statistical estimates of the number of agricultural holdings with significant levels of farming activity* in England show there were 104,476 on 1 June 2022, compared to 106,035 on the same period in 2018. * Data only covers holdings which are registered with the Rural Payments Agency for payments or livestock purposes and with significant levels of farming activity (as recorded in responses to the Defra June Survey of Agriculture or the Cattle Tracing System). Holdings are only included if they have more than five hectares of agricultural land, one hectare of orchards, 0.5 hectares of vegetables or 0.1 hectares of protected crops, or more than 10 cows, 50 pigs, 20 sheep, 20 goats or 1,000 poultry.

Countryside: Fly-tipping

Baroness Kennedy of Cradley: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to prevent fly tipping in the countryside in England.

Lord Benyon: Local authorities are best placed to understand how to tackle fly-tipping in their local areas. We are supporting local action by providing funding of over £450,000 to help a number of councils purchase equipment, such as CCTV, that will help them tackle fly-tipping at known hot-spots, including in rural areas. A second round of grants will see a further £800,000 awarded later this year. In recent years we have also bolstered their enforcement powers, such as by giving them powers to issue fixed penalty notices and strengthening their ability to seize vehicles used for fly-tipping.We are also working with a wide range of interested parties through the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group (NFTPG), including local authorities and the National Farmers Union to promote and disseminate good practice, including how to prevent fly-tipping on private land.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the progress in the implementation of the F-gas regulations, particularly with regard to the greenhouse gas sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and reducing its carbon footprint in electricity transmission, distribution, and hydronic heat pump equipment; what plans they have to amend the F-gas Regulations 2014 ((EU) No 517/2014); and how they intend to ensure that expansion of the electricity grid does not increase carbon emissions through increased use of fluorinated greenhouse gases.

Lord Benyon: A review of the F-gas Regulation is underway. Defra published an Assessment Report in December 2022 that assesses the Regulation against its objectives to reduce F-gas use and emissions. Defra are now identifying options for change, with a focus on additional measures to help the UK meet Net Zero. Development of any proposals will account for factors such as the expansion of the power grid as regards SF6 use and the rollout of heat pumps as regards use of hydrofluorocarbons (the main types of F-gas). In addition to the F-gas Regulation, Ofgem has a framework in place that encourages the reduction of SF6 emissions from existing switchgear equipment on the grid. The F-gas Regulation reduces emissions primarily through the phasedown of the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), the main type of F-gases. The Regulation also sets rules on F-gas use, containment, recovery and destruction and training and certification. Alternative technologies to the use of SF6 in the power sector are being developed, with some already available and being deployed. Consideration needs to be given as to the ability to use alternatives at some existing sites, particularly where the footprint of a site is restricted such as in built-up areas.Assessment Report F-gas (pdf, 1471.6KB)

Dogs: Northern Ireland

Baroness Hoey: To ask His Majesty's Government what documentation is needed to bring a pet dog from Great Britain to Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework.

Lord Benyon: A Pet dog travelling from GB-NI will require a free, simple, electronic, life-long ‘pet travel document’, administered by the government. The pet document does not need to be issued by a vet and does away with all health treatments. This can be sorted in a matter of minutes. For people that don’t have digital access, there will be an alternative simple means of providing the same information when you book your and your pets’ travel, for example via the ferry booking system.

Dogs: Northern Ireland

Baroness Hoey: To ask His Majesty's Government how a pet owner bringing a dog to Northern Ireland can show proof that it will not be taken into the Republic of Ireland under the Windsor Framework.

Lord Benyon: Owners will complete a simple tick box as part of their travel booking, acknowledging they accept the scheme rules and that they will not move their pet into the European Union.

Tree Planting

The Earl of Leicester: To ask His Majesty's Government what consultation they are undertakingregarding the planting of trees to ensure the correct type of tree is being planted, the time of planting is optimum, and the appropriate protections for the trees are being considered to ensure trees planted survive; and what discussions they have had with local authorities also consulting on these matters.

Lord Benyon: Afforestation proposals are screened against environmental constraints and concerns under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) forestry regulations. Defra group / The Forestry Commission has published guidance to help landowners develop appropriate proposals where afforestation is on or near breeding wader sites, and on whether to plant or restock woodland on deep peat and peaty soils. When assessing proposals for grant or regulatory approval, the Forestry Commission must consult the proposer, the relevant interested bodies and place details of the proposal on the Public Register for forestry projects. The Forestry Commission must also consider stakeholder feedback before a decision on approval is made   The UK Forestry Standard sets out the requirements and standards for sustainable forestry, as well as supporting guidance on woodland creation good practice. Maintenance grants are available to help ensure trees are appropriately planted and survive.

Tree Planting

The Earl of Leicester: To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of (1) how many trees were planted in England in 2022, and (2) how many trees planted in 2022 have died.

Lord Benyon: The Forestry Commission produces statistics on new planting of woodland, and trees outside woodland, in England. These can be found in the Forestry Commission Key Performance Indicators at GOV.UK. The statistics are reported for each financial year with an interim mid-year estimate where is data available. The reports show that new planting of woodland and trees in amounted to approximately 4,344,000 trees in 2021-22 plus 1,389,000 trees in the first half of 2022-23 to 30 September 2022. We expect to publish statistics for the 2022-23 year in June 2023. We do not collect information on the number of recently planted trees that have died, although a minimum survival rate is required for grant-funded schemes. However, responding to last summer’s exceptionally hot weather, we have supported agreement holders who lost a high proportion of trees planted in winter 21/22 through ‘extraordinary Payments for Replanting in Exceptional Conditions.’

Tree Planting

The Earl of Leicester: To ask His Majesty's Government whether local authorities are required to report each year on the success rate of tree planting; and whether they require local authorities to seek advice on best practice for tree planting.

Lord Benyon: Local authorities in receipt of funding from the Local Authority Treescapes Fund and Urban Tree Challenge Fund must report annually on the success rate of tree planting and survival to be eligible to receive funding for three years of post-planting maintenance. However, tree planting is not a statutory duty for LAs and there is no requirement in law for them to report on tree planting rates. The Local Authority Tree and Woodland Strategy Toolkit, published in December 2022, provides step-by-step guidance for local authorities to develop an effective trees and woodland strategy to realise the multiple benefits trees can deliver to their communities. It contains helpful information and resources that can be used to guide tree planting and management. We encourage all local authorities to use this resource and create their own strategic approach to expanding, managing and protecting their local treescape. We have also launched the Woodland Creation Accelerator Fund which is designed to provide financial support to local authorities to increase their capacity and specialist skills to enable them to ramp up tree planting and woodland creation delivery.

Waste Management

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask His Majesty's Government what engagement they have had with the organic recycling industry, including members of Compostable Coalition UK and the Association For Renewable Energy and Clean Technology, to inform the development of their waste management strategy for England.

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask His Majesty's Government when they last met with members of Compostable Coalition UK.

Lord Benyon: In 2019, we ran a call for evidence on the need for standards for bio-based, biodegradable, and compostable plastics, to which stakeholders were invited to contribute. Special Advisers also recently met with members of the Compostable Coalition on 1 March 2023.

Tree Planting

The Earl of Leicester: To ask His Majesty's Government who they have consulted within the forestry industry regarding their tree planting policy; and what consultation they are currently conducting to inform that policy.

Lord Benyon: Between 19 June 2020 and 11 September 2020, the government ran a public consultation to help inform the development of a new action plan for trees, woodland and forestry in England. We received over 20,400 responses to this consultation, which are summarised in the England Tree Strategy consultation analysis of responses available at GOV.UK. The England Trees Action Plan was informed by responses to the consultation and provides the strategic framework for the policy measures we will take over this parliament and beyond to meet our long-term vision for healthy and resilient treescapes to 2050. Implementation of the action plan is supported by over £650 million of funding under the Nature for Climate Fund. Our dialogue with delivery partners and other stakeholders continues through the Future of Trees & Forestry Forum and other engagements.

Plastics: Recycling

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask His Majesty's Government what engagement they have had with research projects sponsored by UK Research and Innovation’s Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging Challenge, including Compostable Coalition UK’s ‘Closing the Loop for Compostable Packaging’ project.

Lord Benyon: UK Government officials regularly engage with UK Research and Innovation to discuss projects under the Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging Challenge.

Plastics: Recycling

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of composting facilities across England that treat compostable packaging.

Lord Benyon: There are 199 composting facilities in England. There are 143 anaerobic digestion facilities with a permit to treat organic waste in England. 142 of these anaerobic digestion sites are wet AD sites which generally do not accept materials that need to be composted in an industrial composting process and one of these sites is a dry AD plant that may be able to treat compostable materials.

Packaging: Recycling

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask His Majesty's Government whether their Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme will continue to recognise and incentivise private collection schemes, such as those which collect compostable packaging from closed-loop (on-premise) settings.

Lord Benyon: Under Extended Producer Responsibility, producers who collect and recycle consumer packaging waste at their own cost, where it is not commonly collected by local authorities for recycling, will be able to reduce their obligation to pay fees to cover the costs of managing household packaging. This is intended to support our transition to higher recycling rates as we invest in improved collection, sorting and recycling systems for hard to recycle packaging, or transition to using packaging that is already widely recyclable.

Packaging: Recycling

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to mandate certain products to be packaged in fully certified compostable packaging, such as tea bags, caddy liners, and food contaminated packaging.

Lord Benyon: In April 2021 we published our response to the call for evidence on the need for standards for bio-based, biodegradable, and compostable plastics The Government has no plans to mandate making tea bags, caddy lines and food contaminated packaging compostable. Government measures focus on extracting maximum value from plastic materials by making sure we keep it in circulation for longer, moving away from a take, make, throw model and shifting towards a circular economy.

Sewage: Waste Disposal

Lord Sikka: To ask His Majesty's Government what legislation enables (1) water and environmental regulators, or (2) the Secretary of State, to levy personal fines or bring criminal prosecutions against directors of water companies for authorising dumping of raw sewage into rivers and seas.

Lord Benyon: Water and Sewerage Company activities are regulated by the Environment Agency under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016. Pursuant to those Regulations the Agency may bring criminal prosecutions against Water and Sewerage Companies and against Directors or other officers of those companies. The relevant provisions of those regulations can be found here: The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 (legislation.gov.uk). The Environment Agency does not levy personal fines. Fines are set and imposed by the criminal courts after the conviction of an offender as part of the sentencing process.Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) (pdf, 2746.0KB)

Dartmoor National Park Authority

Lord Swire: To ask His Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made of the work of the current members of the Dartmoor National Park Authority.

Lord Swire: To ask His Majesty's Government whatplans they have, if any, to change the (1) membership, or (2) operation, of the Dartmoor National Park Authority.

Lord Benyon: We greatly appreciate the time, energy, and commitment that board members bring, and the important work they do in caring for our National Parks. Other than new national appointments to fill upcoming vacancies, we have no immediate plans to change the membership or operation of Dartmoor National Park Authority. Our 2022 consultation on implementing the Landscapes Review sought views on potential changes to National Park Authority boards. We are carefully considering the consultation results and are working to publish a response shortly.

Reservoirs: Wales

Lord Wigley: To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Welsh Government regarding proposals being developed by United Utilities, Severn-Trent Water and Thames Water to divert water from reservoirs in Wales to the Thames basin.

Lord Benyon: As agreed in the Intergovernmental Protocol on Water Resources, Water Supply and Water Quality, Defra and the Welsh Government work together on water resources management as a matter of course.Water companies in England and Wales have a statutory duty to provide a secure supply of water for customers, efficiently and economically. Statutory water resources management plans show how companies will continue to meet this duty and manage water supply and demand sustainably for at least the next 25 years. In their plans, water companies must consider all options, including demand management and water resources infrastructure. Collaborative regional water resources groups and water companies have been consulting on their draft water resources management plans. This includes United Utilities, Severn Trent Water and Thames Water.Ofwat, the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales issued joint water resources planning guidance to water companies, which takes account of policy in England and Wales. They are also statutory consultees on the plans, as relevant. The plans will be referred to the Secretary of State and Welsh Ministers for decisions on whether the plans can be finalised later in the year.

Fish Farming: Animal Welfare

Baroness Hayman of Ullock: To ask His Majesty's Government what is their planned timescale for reviewing the recommendations contained in the Farm Animal Welfare Committee'sOpinion on the Welfare of Farmed Fish at the Time of Killing, published in May 2014; and when they will make the recommendations publicly available.

Lord Benyon: We asked the Animal Welfare Committee to update its 2014 Opinion on the welfare of farmed fish at the time of killing and we will study their recommendations carefully to determine next steps.

Forests and Trees: Conservation

Lord Foster of Bath: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to their Tree health resilience strategy, published on 25 May 2018, what progress they have made in each year since 2018 in respect of the goals they identified to improve the (1) extent, (2) connectivity, (3) diversity, and (4) condition, of trees, woods and forests in England.

Lord Benyon: The Forestry Commission publish annual statistical reports on Key Performance Indicators. Since 2020, these reports have included data on the extent and net change in woodland area, the connectivity of woodland, and the ecological condition (including the age and species diversity) of woodlands in England. The latest available report (published June 2022) shows a marginal increase in woodland area, an improvement in net change and little change in connectivity for the last five years of published data. The condition and diversity indicators do not yet have a time series covering five years. Through the England Trees Action Plan, we committed to treble tree planting rates in England by the end of this Parliament. This commitment, supported by the £640m Nature for Climate Fund, is helping the sector to deliver more resilient trees, woods and forests. The Countryside Stewardship scheme and the tree health pilot scheme also provide financial support for removal of diseased trees and restocking of trees.

Department for Education

Theatre: Education

Baroness Benjamin: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that the plays students study include Black, Asian and minority ethnic representation.

Baroness Barran: The National Curriculum for English aims to ensure that all pupils appreciate the UK’s rich and varied literary heritage. It encourages pupils to read a range of books, poems and plays to encourage the development of a love of literature. In Key Stage 3, pupils should also be taught seminal world literature.Following consultation on the minimum requirements for the new English literature GCSE criteria in 2013, the final categories were: at least one play by Shakespeare, a selection of poetry since 1789, at least one 19th century novel and fiction or drama from the British Isles from 1914 onwards. The GCSE specification encourages students to read widely within these categories, to broaden their knowledge of literature, and enhance critical and comparative understanding. Teachers have flexibility in the choice of books and plays to teach within the context of the National Curriculum.Schools make their own decisions on choosing texts, within the set requirements. The Department provides guidance for teachers on how to make their choices of texts, with literacy organisations and reading charities offering suggestions, book lists, guidance, research, and support.

Arts: Education

Baroness Benjamin: To ask His Majesty's Government what is the current status of the Arts Premium funding for secondary schools.

Baroness Benjamin: To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made with their Cultural Education Plan, as outlined in theirOpportunity for all: strong schools with great teachers for your child white paper, published in March 2022; when the expert advisory panel for that plan will meet; and when the report will be published.

Baroness Benjamin: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the introduction of (1) Music Education Hubs, and (2) the National Plan for Music Education, whether they have plans to initiate similar schemes for other art forms including (a) drama, and (b) theatre; and if not, why not.

Baroness Benjamin: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address the discrepancy in the (1) scale, and (2) investment, of arts education in (a) state schools, and (b) independent schools.

Baroness Barran: The department believes in a high-quality education for all pupils, and integral to this is cultural education, including teaching music and the wider arts. All state-funded schools are required to teach a broad and balanced curriculum, and this includes promoting pupils' cultural development.The department will continue to spend around £115 million per annum in cultural education over three years, through our music, arts and heritage programmes. With the real terms per pupil increases to core school funding and the nearly £5 billion that has been announced for education recovery, schools will continue to have the flexibility to deliver a broad and ambitious curriculum and enrichment activities, including in arts and creative subjects.The department published the Model Music Curriculum in 2021 and a refreshed National Plan for Music Education in 2022 to support teachers in delivering high-quality music education. The National Plan for Music Education was jointly published by the department and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in June 2022, and sets out a vision for music education to 2030, to enable all children and young people to learn to sing, play an instrument and create music together, and have the opportunity to progress their musical interests and talents, including professionally.The department will also publish a Cultural Education Plan in 2023, working with DCMS and Arts Council England. The Chair of the Expert Advisory Panel was announced last year and other panel members will be announced in due course.The plan will further support young people who wish to pursue careers in the creative and cultural industries and will cover a range of wider arts subjects where appropriate, such as drama, dance and the wider performing arts. The department does not intend to produce detailed plans in other arts subjects, or to establish a Hub programme for arts subjects other than music. It is widely recognised that that there is a need for Music Hubs in addressing the unique challenges in supporting young people’s access to and progression in music.With the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s education, the department’s priorities have been to focus on education recovery in the recent Spending Review. The government remains committed to the ambitions for a Cultural Education Plan and will give consideration to the future of the Arts Premium in due course.The department does not collect information on spending in arts education at independent schools. The department does publish information on entries in arts qualifications at Key Stage 4 by type of school, including in GCSEs. In the 2021/22 academic year, the proportion of Key Stage 4 pupils taking at least one arts qualification in state-funded schools was 52.4%, while the equivalent proportion for independent schools was 42.3%.

Schools: Attendance

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made any assessment of the impact on attendance at school of (1) World Book Day, and (2) other non-uniform days.

Baroness Barran: While the department is now collecting daily attendance data from 78% of schools, data is not held specifically on the effect of days such as World Book Day or other non-uniform days on school attendance.The government does not determine whether schools have non-uniform days. Many pupils enjoy such events, and they can help to support worthy causes.

Department for Work and Pensions

Social Security Benefits: Children

Lord Hylton: To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of parents who have been denied Universal Credit or Child Tax Credit since 2013 as a result of the two-child limit; and how many exemptions from this limit have been granted since 6 April 2017.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: Families are able to claim support for up to two children, and there may be further entitlement for other children if they were born before 6 April 2017 or if an exception applies. The latest available statistics related to the policy to provide support for a maximum of two children was published in July 2022 and can be accessed at Universal Credit and Child Tax Credit claimants: statistics related to the policy to provide support for a maximum of 2 children, April 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

State Retirement Pensions: Telephone Services

Lord Truscott: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the average wait time for calls to the Future Pension Centre helpline; and what steps they will take to improve the wait time.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: Due to the unprecedented demand with the end of the tax year approaching, call waiting times for Futures Pension Centre helplines have been higher than expected. As a result of this, increased demand across both DWP and HM Revenue & Customs, and the impact on customer service levels, agreement has been reached to extend the period for payment of Voluntary National Insurance until 31 July 23. DWP anticipates this will reduce demand and improve average call wait times.

Department of Health and Social Care

Coronavirus: Prescriptions

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have madeof the effect on patients of the lifting of the prescription waiver on anti-COVID medicines at the end of March; and what steps they will take to prevent health inequalities in COVID-19 medicine provision arising as a result of that.

Lord Markham: Approximately 89% of prescription items are currently dispensed free of charge and there are a range of exemptions from prescription charges for which those in need of COVID-19 medicines may meet the eligibility criteria and be in receipt of free prescriptions. Additionally, those on a low income who do not qualify for an exemption may be eligible for assistance with prescription charges through the NHS Low Income Scheme.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Markham on 14 February (HL5363), what data they are utilising (1) to monitoremerging COVID-19 variants, and (2) to assess their potential impact; and what specific surveillance arrangementsare in place to assist this assessment.

Lord Markham: The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) undertakes regular monitoring of United Kingdom and international SARS-CoV-2 genomic data to detect and characterise new variants. In the UK, this includes data from routine testing and surveillance studies, with variant evaluation currently based on data from multiple sources. UK genomics surveillance is primarily conducted through healthcare associated sites such as hospitals and Office for National Statistics community sampling, with international data being obtained from the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data which includes genetic sequence and related clinical and epidemiological data. The potential impact is considered first based on the relative fitness advantage (the lineage growth rate), national and international geographic dispersion, and/or mutation profile in relation to immune response or therapeutic efficacy, using genomic sequence data. Analysis is discussed at multidisciplinary expert meetings where further laboratory virology investigations can be triggered to add confidence to the risk assessment. UKHSA is utilising strong surveillance capabilities, rooted in the highest-quality data systems, data architecture and analytics to anticipate, prepare for and respond to health risks, including emerging COVID-19 variants. UKHSA is currently working with the Department to consider next steps for the future of surveillance programmes.

Smoking: Health Education

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage people to quit smoking.

Lord Markham: The Government is taking a range of steps to help people quit smoking. We know the single best thing a smoker can do for their health is to quit smoking. We continue to provide funding to local authority stop smoking services via the Public Health Grant. This dedicated, personalised support is vital to help people quit smoking for good. In October, we held our successful Stoptober campaign. Since its inception in 2012, this campaign has helped more than 2.1 million people quit smoking. The Department also works closely with the National Health Service on smoking cessation. As part of the Long-Term Plan, the NHS is committed to delivering tobacco treatment services to all inpatients, pregnant women and people accessing long-term mental health and learning disability services. The Government remains committed to our ambition for England to be Smokefree by 2030 and we will set out further action to achieve this very soon.

Vaccination: Take-up

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the decline in the uptake of immunisations in each of the last 10 years in England.

Lord Markham: Data on coverage of the childhood vaccination programme published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and NHS Digital shows a consistent decline in coverage over the last 10 years. UKHSA undertakes annual surveys of parents and adolescents to understand how knowledge, beliefs and attitudes towards immunisation, vaccine safety and disease severity influence vaccine uptake decision-making. Confidence in vaccination remains consistently high in these surveys. UKHSA, in partnership with NHS England and the Department, is undertaking a range of actions to improve vaccination coverage in England, and to promote the value of vaccines through regular media and stakeholder and social media engagement. This includes initiatives to improve access to the immunisation programme, data to better identify underserved individuals and populations, and training for healthcare professionals.

Health: Disadvantaged

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to publish a white paper on tackling health disparities.

Lord Markham: The Government announced on 24 January 2023 that it will publish a Major Conditions Strategy, with an interim report to be published in the summer. The strategy will set out a policy agenda outlining a shift to integrated, whole-person care. Interventions set out in the strategy will aim to alleviate pressure on the health system, as well as support the Government’s objective to increase healthy life expectancy and reduce ill-health related labour market inactivity. The strategy will tackle conditions that contribute most to morbidity and mortality across the population in England such as cancers, cardiovascular disease (including stroke and diabetes), chronic respiratory diseases, dementia, mental ill-health and musculoskeletal conditions. As material for the Major Conditions Strategy will cover many of the same areas as the Health Disparities White Paper (HDWP), we will no longer be publishing the HDWP.

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask His Majesty's Government how many patients are currently under the care of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in NHS England; how many children are currently on waiting lists for assessment; what percentage of CAMHS patients currently transition to Adult Mental Health Services (AMHS); and what further support they are providing to CAMHS in order to provide more urgent (1) support, and (2) treatment, to children and young people with emotional, behavioural or mental health difficulties.

Lord Markham: The information requested is not collected centrally. The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Tier Framework is no longer used to commission or provide mental health services universally across England and the number of patients in such services is not identifiable in the NHS Mental Health Services Data Set. Data on the number of children on a waiting list for assessment is not collected, as a singled national access and waiting time standard for children and young people’s mental health services has not yet been defined. Data on the number of children and young people transitioning from children and young people’s mental health services to adult mental health services is not collected, as a pathway for analysis has not been defined. It is the responsibility of integrated care boards to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population. We are supporting them to expand mental health services through the NHS Long Term Plan, which commits to increasing investment into mental health services by at least an additional £2.3 billion a year by 2023/24. This will allow an extra two million people by 2023/24, including 345,000 more children and young people, to access National Health Service funded mental health support. We also provided an additional £79 million for 2021/22 to allow around 22,500 more children and young people to access community health services. NHS England has also consulted on the potential to introduce five new waiting time standards as part of its clinically led review of NHS access standards. One of these is that children, young people and their families/carers presenting to community-based mental health services should start to receive care within four weeks from referral. We are now working with NHS England on the next steps. As a first step to introduce the five new waiting time standards, NHS England has recently shared and promoted guidance with its local system partners to consistently report waiting times to support the development of a baseline position.

Eating Disorders: Children and Young People

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the statement by the Royal College of Psychiatrists on 2 March that the NHS is "facing an eating disorders crisis", due to a 51 per cent increase in children and young people requiring specialist services; and what steps they will take to ensure that there is no regional disparity in the services offered.

Lord Markham: Under the NHS Long Term Plan, the Government has earmarked additional funding to bolster existing mental health services, including eating disorder services, until 2023/24. Since 2016, investment in children and young people's community eating disorder services has risen every year, with an extra £54 million per year from 2023/24. This extra funding continues to enhance the capacity of community eating disorder teams across the country. We expect integrated care boards to continue to meet the Mental Health Investment Standard so that investment in mental health services increases in line with their overall increase in allocation for that year. NHS England continues to work with system leaders and regions and to ask that areas prioritise service delivery and investment to meet the needs of these vulnerable young people to help ensure funding flows to these services as intended. To support this, NHS England is refreshing guidance on children and young people's eating disorders, including to increase the focus on early identification and intervention. The updated guidance will highlight the importance of improved integration between dedicated community eating disorder services, wider children and young people's mental health services, schools, colleges, and primary care to improve awareness, provide expert advice and improve support for children and young people presenting with problems with eating, whilst ensuring swift access to specialist support as soon as an eating disorder is suspected.

Evusheld

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Markham on 7 February (HL4941),what standards are set for governance and reporting by (1) RAPID C-19, and (2) other Department of Health and Social Care committees; how they are audited against this standard; and how regularly that auditing takes place.

Lord Markham: The Research to Access Pathway for Investigational Drugs (RAPID C-19) is a multi-agency initiative, each with their own expertise. RAPID C-19 is operated in line with the interim process, full details can be found on the RAPID C-19 page on the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence website in an online-only format. The focus will be on bodies that have directly informed decisions on COVID-19 treatments during the pandemic, in addition to RAPID C-19. These include the COVID-19 Prophylaxis Oversight Group, which was established in 2020 to guide the development of pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis for COVID-19 infection, and the Therapeutics Clinical Review Panel, which was launched by the Department in May 2022 to focus on at-risk patient cohorts that could be eligible for COVID-19 therapies. Arrangements to record possible conflicts of interest are also in place. All activity within the Department is overseen by the audit and risk committee which meets quarterly and includes challenge from independent non-executive directors. This is further underpinned by the challenge of the health group internal audit service, and by other independent assurance processes, such as National Audit Office reviews and the scrutiny of the Health and Social Care Select Committee.

Coronavirus

Lord Dobbs: To ask His Majesty's Government what is their latest view on the origins of the COVID-19 virus.

Lord Markham: The United Kingdom has been clear on the need for a robust, transparent and science-led review into the origins of COVID-19 and continues to support the World Health Organization’s expert studies into the origins of COVID-19. We recognise that there are questions that need to be answered about the origin and spread of COVID-19, not least so we can ensure we are better prepared for future pandemics.

Pharmacy: Finance

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans theyhave to directly invest in the work of community pharmacies and further increase the benefit they have to local communities.

Lord Markham: The Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework 2019-24 five-year deal commits £2.592 billion each year to the sector and outlines the joint vision of the Government, NHS England, and the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee for how community pharmacy will become more integrated into the National Health Service, deliver more clinical services, and become the first port of call for minor illnesses. In September 2022, following negotiation with the sector, we announced an additional one-off £100 million investment into pharmacy for the remainder of the five-year deal. This most recent agreement continues the expansion of the services offered by community pharmacies to local communities. We continue to discuss with the sector what more community pharmacies could do, making use of their valuable skills for the benefit of patients and the NHS.

Coronavirus

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the origins of COVID-19, in the light of the statement made by the FBI Director Christopher Wray on 28 February that "the FBI has for quite some time now assessed that the origins of the pandemic are most likely a potential lab incident in Wuhan".

Lord Markham: The United Kingdom has been clear on the need for a robust, transparent and science-led review into the origins of COVID-19 and continues to support the World Health Organization expert studies into the origins of COVID-19, which should include field research in China and other countries to understand how it started and spread. We recognise that there are questions that need to be answered about the origin and spread of COVID-19, so we can ensure we are better prepared for future pandemics.

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

Gas Fired Power Stations: Carbon Emissions

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government how much carbon dioxide each operational gas-fired power station has emitted in each year of production.

Lord Callanan: The information requested is not held centrally and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Carbon Emissions

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what support they are providingto community heat and power networks to assist them in delivering net zero targets.

Lord Callanan: The Government have funds providing financial support to heat networks to help them meet their net zero targets.The Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF) is intended to facilitate the transition towards low carbon heat generation for new and existing heat networks across England. The £288m fund opened for applications in March 2022 and will run until 2025.The Heat Network Efficiency Scheme (HNES) provides grants for existing heat networks and communal heating systems to part-fund the installation of targeted and cost-effective improvement measures to deliver performance improvements. HNES launched in February 2023 and will deploy up to £30m.

The Senior Deputy Speaker

Parliamentary Estate: Security

Lord Foulkes of Cumnock: To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker,  further to his Written Answer on 9 March (HL5913),what legislation gives the Clerk of Parliaments and the Clerk of the House the legal responsibility for safety on the Parliamentary Estate.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: Under the powers conferred on the Clerk of the Parliaments by the Clerk of the Parliaments Act 1824 and the Parliamentary Corporate Bodies Act 1992, the Clerk of the Parliaments is the Corporate Officer of the House of Lords and acts as the employer of the great majority of staff in the House of Lords Administration. As such he meets the various health and safety duties imposed on employers under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and regulations made under it (including the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012). The Clerk of the Parliaments also has safety-related duties under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and, in relation to visitors, the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957.The Clerk of the House of Commons, who is the Corporate Officer of that House by virtue of the Parliamentary Corporate Bodies Act 1992, has very similar powers, although he is not the employer of House of Commons staff. He shares the responsibility for the physical premises under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 with the Clerk of the Parliaments.

Ministry of Justice

Advisory Services: Finance

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to fundfree (1) advice, and (2) law, centres; and how long any such funding will be available.

Lord Bellamy: Since 2015, the Ministry of Justice has invested more than £25 million in support for litigants in person and funding a broad range of free legal support services.This week, the Ministry of Justice announced a new £10.4m ‘Improving Outcomes Through Legal Support’ grant. This grant will run from July 2023 until March 2025 and will be administered by the Access to Justice Foundation on behalf of the Ministry of Justice. The grant will continue to help thousands of people get access to early legal support from organisations who provide legal advice.More broadly, Legal Aid provides free or low-cost legal advice and representation to people who cannot afford to pay for a lawyer, subject to the relevant means and merits criteria. Legal aid is available for legal advice on criminal, family, housing, immigration and welfare law.

Department for Transport

Cycling: Pedestrian Areas

Lord Macpherson of Earl's Court: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans theyhave to discourage illegal cycling on pavements.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: Cycling on the pavement is an offence, other than in designated areas such as shared use paths. The enforcement of cycling offences is an operational matter for the police.

Cycling and Electric Scooters: Pedestrian Areas

Lord Blencathra: To ask His Majesty's Government whatmeasures they will take to protect pedestrians from cyclists or e-scooter drivers riding at speed on the pavement.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: Cycling on the pavement, other than in designated areas such as on shared used paths, is illegal. It is also illegal to use privately-owned e-scooters on the road, cycle lanes or pavements. In those areas where trials of rental e-scooters are taking place, their use on pavements, other than shared use paths, is not permitted. Enforcement of these matters is the responsibility of the police. The Government is considering bringing forward legislation to introduce new offences around dangerous cycling, to tackle those rare instances where victims have been killed or seriously injured by irresponsible cycling behaviour. This follows an earlier review exploring the case for specific dangerous cycling offences, to which the Department will publish a response as soon as possible.